July 03, 2014: GEFCO UK is providing Bakkavor Group, the international fresh prepared foods manufacturer, with rail and air logistics support to transport mung beans from China to the United Kingdom.

Under the terms of the agreement GEFCO will support the movement of nearly 150 tonnes of mung beans from Dalian in Eastern China to Lincolnshire in the UK, where the beans will be used in the production of a range of food products.

15 tonnes of mung beans will be transferred by air, nearly 70 tonnes will be moved by rail via Mongolia and Germany along the ‘silk route’ rail network that links China with Europe, and around 60 tonnes will be moved as sea freight from China to the UK.

GEFCO’s air, sea and rail solution, which includes in-house track and trace systems, will afford Bakkavor full visibility across all flows, and will enable them to manage transportation in line with demand.

The decision to transport a significant proportion of the shipment by rail has resulted in cost savings for Bakkavor, with the price of rail transfers approximately one quarter of those for equivalent volumes being transferred by air.

The rail, air and sea shipments have been staggered to meet the specific timing requirements of the Bakkavor production process; ensuring consistency of supply.

The rail transfer from China to the UK is the first time that GEFCO UK has provided an in-bound rail solution to the UK from China, although a common route into mainland Europe for GEFCO; demonstrating the viability of rail flows from China to the UK via the silk route rail network.

GEFCO UK and Bakkavor are in the process of discussing potential future logistics projects in territories including Peru, Chile and Mexico.

Speaking in relation to the Bakkavor agreement, Rob Brown, GEFCO’s Overseas Business Unit Head, said: “We are delighted to be working with Bakkavor. This business helps to demonstrate our global multimodal capabilities, and helps to build links between the UK business and China, a key strategic market in terms of enabling future growth. It also showcases our growing strength in sectors such as food and drink.”

Jo Wakefield, Bakkavor’s Shipping Manager, commented: “GEFCO offered a service that combined a competitive rate with a commitment to ensuring that our business needs were put at the heart of the solution provided.”